Royal Cork get blend right

It's all over for another two years. Winners are elated and losers are content with resolutions for better results next time out.

The Harold Cudmore overall title defence was settled in favour of Roy Disney's super-sled Pyewacket in a drama-filled final day last Friday. Further down the fleets, there were plenty of similar stories of close results as the competition revelled in 15-20 knot winds.

Mark Mansfield left his mark on the 1720 fleet in the final two races of their European Championship. As a kind of gentle reminder that he would be in full form after the Sydney Olympics, he neatly tucked away two first places as others struggled to stay in control in the surfing conditions.

Colm Barrington realised a long-held dream when Gloves Off boxed away the highly competitive Class One fleet. His new Corby 38 took on no fewer than nine Beneteau 40.7-footers, plus a similar number of Prima 38s, in what will certainly be his high point of this year.

On the disappointment front, Tim Goodbody's White Mischief slipped from his overall lead to fifth in the Sigma 33 class, although Andrew Milton's Pepsi, in second overall, showed just how far the young Irish fleet has moved on in two years.

With the bulk of the Ford Cork Week fleet now departed from Crosshaven, the venue for one of the world's top regattas has almost returned to normal. Within hours of the prize-giving the massive tented village was being dismantled and a steady stream of visiting crews started out for ferry terminals and airports.

The signs of the 630-boat fleet are just about gone, along with the evidence of around 2,000 kegs of beer per day for the last week. Once again, the Royal Cork Yacht Club has pulled off a feat of organisational excellence that has even surpassed previous years.

That's not to say that everything went as smoothly as might have been hoped for. This regatta has been built on a reputation of first-class quality in all areas and for all participants, both afloat and ashore. In other parts of the world, similar regattas are often attended more for traditional reasons than simply for its plain racing appeal.

Without that traditional must-do appeal ingredient, greater emphasis becomes attached to every aspect of the regatta. Hence the vital need for the RCYC to get every element of the event right without compromise, as they know well. Small slip-ups are inevitable in any situations, and too many of these could gather momentum; fortunately the friendliness and co-operative spirit among the RCYC volunteers smooths ruffled feathers.

British Round the World Race navigator and regular Cork Week visitor Steve Hayles said: "This is a great regatta - good courses, great organisation and great weather."

And the of the results problem? This was answered with a shrug: "These things happen."

The problem of the results service can be seen as the most significant issue to arise. A fundamental requirement not just of a sailing regatta but of any sporting occasion, the entire event hinges on a speedy and accurate system. At Ford Cork Week this year, competitors were obliged to wait until the fourth and penultimate day of the regatta before finding out where they stood in the overall standings.

While criticism from the fleet was relatively mute, the commentary was hard and to the point. But in reality, when this problem is dealt with - and it will be - the Royal Cork YC have actually achieved sailing's answer to Riverdance: uniquely Irish, high quality and a fresh approach to tradition.

If a new direction is to be taken, then it will be up to the guardians of this regatta's long-term future to market its singular appeal to a wider audience than just its 95 per cent representation from these islands for a truly world-class event.